Condenser for textile fibers



J. DEXTER.' CONDENSER FOR TEXTILE FIBERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1920.

Patented May 16; k1922.

CONDENSER FOR TEXTILE FIBER/S.A

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 19122.

Application led March 30, 1920. Serial No. 369,833.

Io (JZ whom t may concern:

Ee it known that l, Jol-1N DEXTER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New Bedford, county of Bristol, andl State of Massachusetts,(whose post-oiiice address is 115 Orchard Street, New Bedford,Massachusetts,) have invented an Improvement in Condensers for TextileFibers, of which the following' description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to rub aprons used in connection with cardingmachines for imparting to a ribbon of lfibers a rounded or cylindricalform.

In machines of this general type, the ribbons of ,fibers are subjectedto a rolling or rubbing action between aprons usually formed of leatheror the like. The aprons are given an advancing movement in unison toadvance the ribbons rof fibers, and simultaneously therewith the apronshave imparted thereto a reciprocating` transverse movement in shortpaths so that as the ribbons of fiber passv between the aprons they arecaught and formed into a cylindrical shape.

During treatment, the fibers will absorb to a more or less degree, theoily or lubricant matter contained in the aprons, the surface of whichsoon become dry and smootiL or glazed, with the result that they 'failto perform their condenser functions. Under these conditions, it isnecessary from time to time to stop the machine and apply an oily orlubricating` substance to the surface of the aprons. This results inloss, and the character of the slivers or rovings producedvariesprogressively from the time when the aprons are first lubricated untilthe next lubrication takes place. if the aprons are run for a timewithout properly forming the slivers or rovings, a loss due to theimproper formation of the slivers or rovings results, causing waste andinferior work, A feature of the present invention, therefore, consistsof means for automatically supplying proper lubricant to the surface ofthe aprons and regulating` that supply of lubricant to maintain thedesired condition of the surface of the apron that they may performtheir condensing functions uniformly throughout the entire length of theslivers or rovings being produced.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts will behereinafter described in addition to the above, and in connection withthe accompanying drawings which show one good, iractical form of theinvention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a leather apron condenser withthe present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of certain features of the invention showndetached from the condenser;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the'con'- denser apron lubricatingmeans, some` of the parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a cross section ofthe lubricating device on `the line 4 4- ofFig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modified form of trough support.

The invention may be advantageously applied to any of the rub apronsemployed in connection with carding'machines for forming ribbons offiber into cylindrical form or into what is technically known asslivers7 or rovings. in the present instance7 it is shown as applied tothe rub aprons connected with a condenser and it will be convenient todescribe it in that connection, with the understanding that it may beadvantageously employed in connection with any of the rub aprons usedtoform ribbons of fibers into cylindrical form.

The condenser frame may be of 'any suitable character for supporting theoperating parts, and in the present instance of the invention, comprisesthe side frames 1 which are connected by the cross tie 2, one or more ofwhich may be employed, as they circumstances` dictate. Supported by thecondenser frame, in the present instance, are yshown two rub apronswhich are mounted upon suitable rolls driven as usual, to impart to theaprons an advancing or feeding movenient. At one end of the rub apronsupporting and operating rolls', means are provided for giving theaprons a reciprocating movement transversely to their feeding movement,the construction being such that the fibers delivered to the aprons fromthe carding machine may be properly rolled into cylindrical form.Referring more particularly to the construction as herein illustrated,the upper pair of a yrons 8 and 4t, are mounted upon rolls 5 anc 6 whichextend transversely of the frame and are journalled in suitable bearings7, so that the contiguous surface of the upper and lower aprons may besufficiently close to impart to the fibers the feeding and rollingmovements. On the ends of the rolls 5 and 6 are the tooth wheels orgears 8 which may be driven from a suitable source of power to impart tothe aprons 3 and 4 their feeding movements, as usual.

ln addition to the support of the rolls 5 and 6, the aprons 3 and 4 passaround the rolls 9 and 10 which are carried in bearing blocks 11 mountedfor adjustment toward and from the bearings 7 to properly adjust thetension of the aprons. The construction thus far described may be of theusual char acter in this class ot machines, or may bc varied to suitconditions of use.

Below the upper pair ot' aprons 3 and 4 are the lower condenser aprons12 and 13, which areJ mounted upon the rolls 14 and 15 in a mannersimilar to the upper pair of aprons, and the lower pair of aprons may bedriven as usual, through the gears or pin` ions 16. The construction andarrangement of the upper and lower pairs of aprons are similar, or maybe, and the description oit the upper pair of aprons as herein recited,may be applied with equal force to the lower pair of aprons.

yThe several rub apron supporting rolls have their other ends supportedin a frame 17 which is given a reciprocating movement transversely ofthe machine by any suitable means. In the present instance, the frame 17is given its reciprocating movements from the eccentrics 18 and 19mounted on the operating shaft 20, the construction being such that theaprons will be given their i'ecding movements through their respectiverolls 5, 6, 14 and 15 and their lateral reciprocating movements by thereciprocating trame 1'4". The parts thus far described may be of usualconstruction, and need no further elucidation. rlhe ribbons oi ber 21enter between the associated pairs of aprons and, owing to the feedingand lateral reciprocating movements ol the aprons, the ribbons of liberemerge from the aprons in the :term ot sliv` ers or rovings 22.

As hereinbefore pointed out, where the rub apron system is employed fortreating fibers, the surfaces of the apron soon become dry and smoothedor glazed. The progressive drying and smoothing or glazing of the surface of the aprons from the commencement toward the end of theiroperation necessarily cause a variation in the character of the sliversor rovings produced, because, when the aprons are properly conditionedby the lubricant, their grip upon the cotton fibers is more emphasizedthan when the surface of the aprons become more or less devoid oflubricant, or approach the dry or glazed condition. The result o1 thisis that the slivers produced by the aprons are not uni form in characterfrom the start to finish, and toward the end of the operation, when thesurface of the aprons approach the dried, smoothed or glazed condition,the slivers or rovings fail to be properly produced, and such endportions of the slivers become waste, and must be retreated by passingthrough the carding machine and being incorporated with other iibers.

rThe present invention therefore contemplates the provision of means forobviating this progressively-defective condition of the slivers orrovings' by supplying to the apron automatically and continuouslyvduring the rubbing operation, a suitable amount of lubricant, and onegood form of means to this end consists ot a'trough-like receptacle eX-tending transversely of the rub aprons and having a lubricating devicewhich normally contacts with the surface ot' the associated apron ofeach pair.

)In the present instance the lubricant-supplying means consists of atrough 23 having the downwardly-inclined side portions 24 and a cover25, the trough being supported from the condenser frame by suitablemeans such as the hangers 26 and 27. The hangers 26 and 27 may besecuredto the side fra-mes by suitable securing means such as the bolts28 and have their opposite end portions connected to the lubricatingtrough 28, the construction being such that the bolts 28 may be readilydetached to permit the lubricating trough to lbe taken from the machine.

in some cases it may be desirable to more readily move the lubricatingtrough and be able to replace it without the necessity of adjustment anduse of tools, so that those unifamiliar with mechanisms may remove thelubricating trough and then replace it in proper position. In such casesthe end portions of the lubricating trough .may each be provided with abracket or leg 49, Fig. 5, having a i'oot portion 50 which may rest uponan adjusting screw 51' extending through the lower portion of asupporting bracket 52 which may secured to and depend from the innerside ot the trame, as indicated in F ig. 5. The bracket 52 may have theguide portions 58 to receive between them the leg 49 and the toot 50.

The trough 28 is supplied with a lubricant from a suitable containerwhich, in the present instance ot the invention, consists ol a reservoir29 conveniently supported by a bracket 30 from the condenser trame, towhich the bracket is secured by a detachable bolt 81, the construction.being such that the reservoir may be readily detached from the condenserframe.

lt will be understood that a lubricating trough 23 is provided ior eachpair ot rub aprons and each ot the lubricating troughs is connected tothe reservoir 29 by a supply pipe 32. The supply pipe 32 extends prei'-erably longitudinally of the lubricating troughs and is provided with aseries o1"- outlets 33 within the lubricating troughs, the end of thesupply pipe at 34e, F ig. 3, being closed, the construction being suchthat the lubricant will be supplied with substantial equality throughoutthe length o'f the lubricating troughs.

llhe supply of lubricant to the supply pipes 32 may be controlled bysuitable ineans which enables the quantity of lubricant delivered to thetroughs to be regulated will. the present instance, each of 'thelubricating troughs has extending thereinto and surrounding the portionof the supply pipes 32 within the troughs, a rotary cover which, likethe supply pipes themselves, is provided with a series ot outlets 3G.The end ot the cover projects beyond the end ot the lubricating troughsand is provided with a boss 37 by which the cover may be rotated ormoved about the perforated portion ot the supply pipes, the constructionbeing such that the outlets ci the supply pipe and outlets 3G of thecover `may be adjusted to regulate the Quantity et lubricant deliveredto the lubricating troughs. As a convenient means for maintaining thecover in its operative position, it may be threaded at 38 into a Y 39projecting from the end of the lubricating troughs.

At its delivery end, each ot the lubricatingv troughs is provided with alubricant distributor 410 preferably formed of a substance which willpermit the slow passage ot lubricant therethrough, such as a wick or thelike; and in order that the delivery ot lubricant by the distributor'may be further regulated to suit the conditions of use, the lower kendportion ot the delivery troughs is provided with a 'Flexible wall elwhich may be made to bear with more or less energy upon the distributorby means ol: a series of adjusting` bolts 42. rllhe delivery end portionoit each trough is preferably reinforced,A also, by angle irons orstrengthening members 43 to provide equal distribution oli pressure onthe wick. lllithin the lubricating trough and pret erably extending toor above the outlets oi the delive 1y pipes 32 there is provided vtheabsorbent material la which may be ilorined oi' some textile liber suchas cotton, wool or the like, the construction being such that thelubricant supplied to the lubricatinn` troughs will gradually workdownward to .and be transmitted by the distributor 4l() to one surtaceof each pair oit rub aprons, substantially as indicated in Fig. l, andthe supply ot' lubricant will be automatic throughout the operation ofthe machine, and of a quantity to maintain the surface theA aprons inproper condition ttor performing their sliver or roving-formingfunctions. rl`hus the entire length of slivers produced by the rubaprons are made uniiorm in character from start to finish, and waste ofmaterial, as well as olf' labor and lubricant, is obviated.

Ot course it will be understood that variations may be made in theparticular means for properly supplying and distributing the lubricantto the aprons automatically, and igt desired, the shut-oil' coclrs l5and e6 may be placed in the supply pipes 32 Yfor interrupting the supplyof liiibricant, should such interruption be found desirable.

ln the illustrated 'form of the invention, the lubricating trough forsupplying the lubricant automatically to the lower pair ot condenseraprons is supported by the brackets /l' which are adj ustably secured bythe bolt and slot connection 48 to the side oi: the condenser trame.

l/Vhile the lubricant is continuously and automatically supplied to onlyone oli the condenser aprons, such lubricant is itself transferred tothe surface ot its companion condenser apron by the libers which passbetween the aprons and also by contact ol' the aprons themselves.

That is claimed isl. ln a condenser provided with rub aprons, means forapplying oil to the sliverengaging surface of said aprons, comprising,in combination, a lubricant trough. supported transverse-ly of and inspaced relation to an apron, a flexible lubricant distributor efrtendinglengthwise ot the trough and protruding :trom the trough in thedirection ot the apron, lubricant supply means extending longitudinallywit-hin said trough and having outlets for the lubricant at spacedintervals within the trough, and adjustable means cooperating with saidoutlets to regulate the flow ot lubricant therefrom.

2. A lubricant device for supplying lubricant to a traveling apro-n,comprising, in combination, lubricant trough having alongitudinally-extending slot leading trom the lower portion ol1 thetrough, means for supporting the trough transversely ot and in spacedrelation to the apron, a lubricant wiclr within said slot and extendingtherefrom toward the traveling' apron, and adjustable means adjacentsaid slot and adapted to pinch the wick to vary the amount of lubricantdelivered by the wick to the apron.

3. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling condenser apron,comprising in combination, a lubricant trough containing oil-absorbing`material and having a longitudinally-extending slot leading from thelower portion of the trough, means for supporting the trough in spacedrelation to the apron,.an oil wick within said slot and extendingtherefrom into engagement with the condenser apron, and adjustable meansfor moving one of the walls of Said slot toward the other to pinch theWick and thereby vary the amount ot oil supplied by the Wick to theapron.

d. A. lubricant device iter supplying oil to a condenser apron,comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough having a slot extendinglongitudinally thereof and leading irom the lower portion oi the trough,means tor conducting oil trom said slot to an apron, a reservoir for theoil positioned ex-l ternally of the trough a conduit leading from thereservoir and extending into the trough and longitudinally thereof andprovided with a series olf outlets tor the oil, and adjustable meansJfor varying the c'li'ecH tive size oit said outlets to control theamount oi: oil passing through the outlets.

5. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a condenser apron, comprisingin combination a lubricant trough having an adjustable outletconstructed to extend across a condenser apron, means Yl'or supportingthe trough in spaced relation to the apron, a flexible distributorextending through the outlet toward the apron to conduct oil thereto,and means l'or adjusting the Width oil said outlet to squeeze `be-tlexible distributor and thereby control the amount oi? oil sui pliedto the apron.

6. A. lubricant device for supplying lubricant to a traveling apron,comprising, in combination, a lubricant trough, a lubricant supplyconduit extending longitudinall)T Within the trough and having outletstor the lubricant at spaced intervals 'Within the trough, adjustablemeans cooperating with said outlets to regulate the llow ol" lubri canttherefrom, and a lubricant distributor disposed longitudinally of saidtrough and extending therefrom to conduct lubricant to the apron. y

7. A condenser apron oiler, comprising, in combination, a lubricanttrough having a longitudinally-extending slot leading from the lovverportion of the trough, means for supporting the trough in spacedrelation to the apron and adjustable to vary the position of the troughrelative to the apron, a lubricant Wick Within said slot and extend ingtherefrom toward the traveling apron, and means for adjustably pinchingthe Wick to vary the amount of lubricant delivered the amount of oilsupplied by the Wick to e the traveling surface.

9. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling Web, comprisingin combination, a lubricant trough having a longitudinallyextending slotleading from the trough, an oil Wick Within said slot and extendingtherefrom toward the traveling` Web to supply oil to the web, andadjustable means for pinching the Wick to thereby vary the amount of oilsupplied by the Wick to the traveling web. y

l0. A lubricant device for supplying oil to a traveling surface,comprising, in combination, a. lubricant trough having alongitudinally-extending slot leading from the lower portion of thetrough, an oil Wick Within said trough and extending therefrom towardthe traveling surface to supply oil to the surface, means for pinchingthe Wick to thereby control the amount of oil supplied by the Wiclr tothe traveling surface, and oilabsorbing material packed in the 'troughadjacent the Wick to retard by capillary attraction passage oi oilWithin the trough to the Wick.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my ame to this specification.

JOHN DEXTER

